Payton cleared to attend Saints game

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Suspended New Orleans Saints head coach Sean
Payton has been given permission to attend the club's Week 5 game against the
San Diego Chargers on Sunday, according to a report on NFL.com.

Payton is currently serving a year-long suspension for his role in the Saints maintaining an illegal bounty program from 2009-2011, which included payments to players for inflicting game-ending injuries on competitors.

Payton, as well as assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey
Loomis, were to avoid any contact with the team during their ban, but
quarterback Drew Brees lobbied commissioner Roger Goodell for the three to be
in attendance Sunday as he tries to break Johnny Unitas' record of 47 straight
games with a touchdown pass.

"Commissioner Goodell has granted that permission," read the statement on
NFL.com. "Coaches Payton and Vitt and Mickey Loomis will be permitted to watch
the game in a private area of the stadium and will have no contact with the
team."

Loomis was suspended eight games while Vitt will take over as interim head
coach in Week 8. The Saints have lost their first four games under offensive
line coach Aaron Kromer.

Last Sunday, the NFL allowed Gregg Williams to see his son coach for the Rams
in their game against the Seahawks. Williams, the Saints' defensive
coordinator during the bounty scandal, was suspended indefinitely by the
league this offseason.